In recent weeks, Palestinians in Jerusalem have mobilized and stood to defend their basic rights – for the right to self-determination as Palestinians, defend their homes, their families and generations against the Israeli government along with right extremist organizations’ attempt to drive them out and replace them with settlements of Jewish communities. Palestinians have been confronted with colonial and violent repressions since the late 1940s.

We, Mindanao grassroots, tri-people and civil society organizations and individuals advocating and working for peace, human dignity, human rights, ecological sustainability and social justice join the global community in unequivocally condemning the Israeli state’s persisting settler-colonial violence against Palestinians (ethnic cleansing through forced expulsions of families from the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah); the May 7 attacks on worshippers in the Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan; the brutal aerial bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip since May 10; and the racist police and mob violence targeting Palestinian communities within Israel and other mixed cities. In Jerusalem alone, hundreds of Palestinians have been injured and dozens imprisoned. As a result of this violence there have been to date at least 83 deaths in Gaza (including 16 children) 3 in the West Bank. Seven (7) Israelis have also been killed. In these recent one-sided bloody conflicts it is hard to believe that it is Israel which is defending itself or what President Biden of the United States of America (USA) would like us to believe.

This process of dispossessions and injustices has continued to the present through military aggression, occupation, and settlement, and through the legislated policies and campaigns of the Israeli government. Worst is, anywhere in the world is also faced with the threats of an unseen COVID-19 multiple mutations.

The Palestinians’ struggle is not far from the Mindanao experience., The question on the Right to Self Determination of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Bangsamoro has overlapped but the former has been downplayed despite the passage of the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997 and the evolving political entity of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Ancestral Domains of the IPs are under attack by armed groups and politicians; and corporate interests that have been allowed by the Philippine state and Autonomous Region’s leadership in the name of development and have resulted in massive displacements and killings.

The Right to Self-Determination of a smaller nation cannot be trampled upon by the Right to Self-Determination of the bigger and stronger nation. On the other hand, Bangsamoro communities are heavily bombarded by the government armaments in pursuit against the splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters resulting in more than 60,000 displacements and deaths of dozens since February 2021. Obviously, this is a product of building an exclusive peace amongst and within peoples.

There can never be peace in non-recognition of the national rights of the minorities and the continued assault to their territories and generations in the guise of modernity, profit and even peace. This is similar with the experience of the Papuans in West Papua, Indonesia; Tamils in Sri Lanka; and all First Nations/Indigenous Peoples in the world. We see a mass murder and global ethnocide against smaller and weaker nations. The same horrors we had already and continuously experienced in Mindanao as peace processes and the over-all framework in addressing the national question are integration, exclusion, subjugation and marginalization. This is always and almost the core if peace is only seen using the lens of the majority nationality. And we fully understood that there can be no real peace if oppression continues to exist elsewhere.

We recognize that the path to justice in Palestine is complex but we insist that the recognition of the fundamental human rights of Palestinians, including self-determination and the right of all refugees to return is the only just path for the safety and dignity of both Palestinians and Israelis alike.

We believe above all that this is not between religions and faiths but a repression and colonization of Israel to Palestine and we demand an immediate end to the violence and brutalities. No justification of collateral damage (children and women) can justify such dehumanization.

We call on the United Nation to urgently intervene and end the sufferings of the innocent civilians of both Palestine and Israel.

We call on social movements around the world to stand with the Palestinians and the peace-loving Jewish, communities and the Oppressed Nations in the world and Celebrate JustPeace!

End the civil and military occupations in Palestine!

Equal Democratic and National rights for the Palestinians!

Uphold and Defend the right to self-determination and the right to safe return for the Palestinian people!

Hold Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government Accountable!

May 17, 2021

Signed,

Organizations:

1. Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement (MPPM)

2. Timuay Justice and Governance (Indigenous Political Structure of Teduray and Lambangian tribes)

3. Alyansa ng Kabataang Mindanao para sa Kapayapaan (AKMK)

4. Association of OFW Children (AOFWC) - Cotabato City and Maguindanao

5. Demokratikong Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas - Lanao del Norte

6. Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)

7. Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Center, Inc.

8. Kagkalimwa OFW Federation

9. Alliance of Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR)

10. Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)

11. Ako Bakwit, Inc.

12. Ranao Women and Children Resource Center Inc (RWCRC)

13. MindanaOne Tri-Peoples’ Movement (MindanaOne)

14. Tri-Peoples’ Organization against Disasters Foundation, Inc. (TRIPOD)

15. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

16. Multi-Stakeholders Initiatives for Humanitarian Action against Disasters (MIHANDS)

17. Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center (MTWRC)

18. Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)

19. Tri-People Youth for Change (TrYChange)

20. iDEFEND - Lanao del Norte

Individuals:

1. Rodelio N. Ambangan, MPPM Chairperson
2. Bishop Jaime B. Dadol, Filipino Katoliko Church, Bukidnon Diocese
3. Ernesto Barbante, AKMK
4. Timuay Labi Letecio L. Datuwata, Timuay Justice and Governance
5. Atty Ronald C.Lara
6. Rev Fr Sotero V. Fenis, Jr., Filipino Katoliko, Saint James Parish, Compostela, Davao de Oro
7. Rev Fr Danilo Portabes,Philippine Catholic Faith Crusade, Malungon, Sarangani
8. Jeramin Bantas, Association OF OFW Children (AOFWC)
9. Maja Makakua, Association of OFW Children (AOFWC)
10. Rev Fr William Requiso, Misionary Priest, Filipino Katoliko, Esperanza, Agusan del Sur
11. Bishop Pedro P. Fenis, Jr., Filipino Katoliko, Agusan-Surigao del Sur Diocese
12. Rayhana K. Omar, Association of OFW Children, Cotabato City
13. Araj Pinagayao, Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)
14. Bailen L. Laguilay, Association of OFW Children (AOFWC)
15. Laida Musa, ALTAHR Secretariat General and Tri-People Youth for Change (TrYChange) member
16. Bishop Danilo C. Rulite, Philippine Catholic Faith Crusade, Christ The King, Tagum, Davao del Norte
17. Hadje C. Sadje, Paris Institute of Critical Thinking
18. Vanessa Kyle Llamas, Student of MSU-IIT
19. Samsodin A. Gandamra, Interfaith Youth Council (FoRB)
20. Gyle Geografo
21. Rizalina Amesola, Ranao Women and Children Resource Center Inc (RWCRC)
22. Mohaymin M. Mamadsual, Palimbang Youth Parliament
23. Mary Louise A. Omelio-Villa
24. Marjan Nur Salonga Salandanan, iDefend
25. Ann Marie B. Intong, MSU-IIT
26. Krizl Kish F. Delima, Faculty of MSU-Marawi
27. Nazh-Far Mariwa Berganio, Founder/President of Ako Bakwit, Inc.
28. Rose Trajano, iDefend
29. Leila Hope Suano, UPV Oikos Ecological Movement
30. Joseph Purugganan, Focus on the Global South
31. Brylle Chavez, BALAOD Mindanaw
32. Nymia Pimentel Simbulan, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Alliance
33. Leo Mendoza Jr., iDefend
34. Yennah Torres, Tri-Peoples’ Organization against Disasters Foundation, Inc. (TRIPOD)
35. Farhana Tekoken, Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center, Inc./ Tri-people Youth for Change
36. Sindy Soler, Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center (MTWRC)
37. Melinda Gallego, Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center (MTWRC)
38. Milyn Cruz, Alyansa ng Mamamayan Para sa Karapatang Pantao(AMKP)
39. Val Vibal, Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura
40. Jun Gonzaga, Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)
41. Bong Fenis, Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Movement - Katawhang Migrante
42. Geral Jaan, AKMK
43. Calif Amindato, Salimbago Youth Volunteers Alliance
44. Bainor Solaiman, Mindanao Tri-people Women Resource Center
45. Mohammad J. Edzhlama, Artist
46. Max Savandal
47. Diandra Ditma A. Macarambon, Faculty of MSU-Marawi / Inged a Pilombayan
48. Toribio Bernadas, Nagkahiusang Mag-uumang Organiko (NAMAO) Chairperson
49. Datu Mandingding Rogelio B. Pagios, Manobo (Agusan del Sur)
50. Atty Saidamen M. Barrat
51. Elin Anisha Guro, Inged a Pilombayan
52. Aisa Musa-Barrat
53. Alianah “liebling” Alonto-Pacma
54. Gabriella Lima, Movement solidaritéS (Switzerland)
55. Essyad Anouk, solidaritéS (CH)
56. Aurélie Gay
57. Amrollah M. Pacma
58. Salem Alawi Rangiris Jr Philippine Veterans Affairs Office

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